[Las Vegas] The Marble Institute of America (MIA) and stone distributor MS International (MSI) debuted a new documentary at StoneExpo 2013 that chronicles a 2.5 million year love affair between man and natural stone.

The History of Man and Stone. A Documentary is a 57-minute program that traces back to when primitive man began creating tools and weapons from stone. Today, stone continues as a $50 billion a year global industry, where stone is quarried and processed in more than four dozen countries around the world.

“Once you see the documentary, you will know why natural stone for the home, once thought to be affordable only by the wealthy, has literally become a staple for kitchen countertops, bathroom vanities and other applications in the home,” said James Hieb, executive vice president and CEO of the MIA. “The story of how stone morphed from being used almost exclusively in commercial construction to creating a booming residential business in the United States and other countries is a fascinating story.”

The documentary was produced for the MIA by Bill Levy Productions, Inc. of Beachwood, Ohio, which has chronicled the growth of the industry for the past decade. The production team interviewed more than 40 stone experts from around the world. MSI, the primary sponsor of the film, provided $100,000 for its production. Daltile, Marmomacc and StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas also contributed funds to the project.

“I wanted people to realize what natural stone has done for humankind,” said Manu Shah, CEO of MSI. In addition, he said the video also works as an educational and branding tool about the use of stone in residential and commercial architecture.
“We need to make natural stone affordable and accessible,” Shah added.

The Marble Institute will make the video available to schools, colleges, architectural firms and flooring and stone showrooms.
“I can see this video being used in continuous loop by companies in their showrooms,” said Garis Distelhorst, former executive vice president and CEO of MIA who retired in December.

The documentary is available online at marble-institute.com, and DVDs are also available for purchase.